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Parallel Circuits Parallel Circuits: © 2007 The Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Parallel Circuits Parallel Circuits: © 2007 The Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
5
Parallel Circuits
Fig. 5-1: Example of a parallel circuit with two resistors. (a) Wiring diagram.
(b) Schematic diagram.
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-2: Each Branch I Equals VA / R
The current in a parallel circuit equals the voltage
applied across the circuit divided by the resistance
between the two points where the voltage is applied.
Fig. 5-3: Parallel circuit. (a) the current in each parallel branch equals the applied voltage VA
divided by each branch resistance R.
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5-3: Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)
Components connected
in parallel are usually
wired across one
another, with the entire
parallel combination
connected to the voltage
source.
Fig. 5-5a:The current in the main line equals the sum of the branch currents. Note that from G to
A at the bottom of this diagram is the negative side of the main line, and from B to F at the top is
the positive side. (a) Wiring diagram. Arrows inside the lines indicate current in the main line for
R1; arrows outside indicate current for R2.
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-3: Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)
All the current in the circuit must come from one side of
the voltage source and return to the opposite side for a
complete path.
IT
V
I1 I2 I3 I4
IT
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 + I4
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
The combined equivalent resistance of a parallel circuit
may be found by dividing the common voltage across all
resistances by the total current of all the branches.
VA
REQ =
IT
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
A combination of parallel branches is called a bank.
Fig. 5-7: How adding parallel branches of resistors increases IT but decreases REQ. (a) One
resistor. (b) Two branches. (c) Three branches. (d) Equivalent circuit of the three branches in (c).
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
Total Current and Reciprocal Resistance Formulas
In a parallel circuit, the total current equals the sum of
the individual branch currents:
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 +...+etc.
VT
IT =
REQ
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
Total Current and Reciprocal Resistance Formulas
The equivalent resistance of a parallel circuit equals the
reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals:
1
REQ =
1 1 1
+ + + ... +etc.
R1 R2 R3
Equivalent resistance also equals the applied voltage
divided by the total current:
VA
REQ =
IT
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
Determining the Equivalent Resistance
Fig. 5-8: Two methods of combining parallel resistances to find REQ. (a) Using the reciprocal
resistance formula to calculate REQ as 4 . (b) Using the total line current method with an
assumed line voltage of 20 V gives the same 4 for REQ.
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
Special Case: Equal Value Resistors
If R is equal in all branches, divide one resistors value
by the number of resistors.
R
REQ =
N
60 k
REQ =
3 resistors
REQ = 20 k
Fig. 5-9: For the special case of all branches having the same resistance, just divide R by the
number of branches to find REQ. Here, REQ = 60 k / 3 = 20 k.
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
Special Case: Two Unequal Resistors
When there are only two branches in a parallel circuit
and their resistances are unequal, use the formula:
R1 R2
REQ =
R1 + R2
Fig. 5-10: For the special case of only two branch resistances, of any values, REQ equals
their product divided by the sum. Here, REQ = 2400 / 100 = 24.
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-4: Resistance in Parallel
To find an unknown branch resistance, rewrite the
formula as follows to solve for the unknown value.
R REQ
RX =
R REQ
1 1 1
G1 = = 0.05 S G2 = = 0.2 S G3 = = 0.5 S
20 W 5W 2W
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5-6: Total Power in Parallel Circuits
PT = P1 + P2 + P3 + ... + etc.
PT = VT IT
5-6: Total Power in Parallel Circuits
Determining Power
102
P1 = = 10 W
10 W
102
P2 = = 20 W
5W
PT = 10 + 20 = 30 W
Check: PT = VT IT = 10 V 3 A = 30 W
Fig. 5-14: The sum of the power values P1 and P2 used in each branch equals the total power PT
produced by the source.
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
5-7: Analyzing Parallel Circuits with
Random Unknowns
When the voltage across one branch is known, use this
voltage for all branches. There can be only one voltage
across branch points with the same potential difference.